Stephen Merchant

"People come up to me and say, 'Oh, I was scared to ask for your autograph in case you put me down,'" Gervais says in a hushed tone during a recent interview in New York. "No, no, I would never do that."

It's not difficult to understand this misperception. Ever since "The Office" catapulted him to global fame a dozen years ago, the writer, director, actor and professional provocateur has come to be synonymous with a brand of humor that, although never truly mean-spirited, is fueled by discomfort.

Related "Stephen Merchant" Articles

Ricky Gervais doesn't understand why you're so afraid of him.
"People come up to me and say, 'Oh, I was scared to ask for your autograph in case you put me down,'" Gervais says in a hushed tone during a recent interview in New York. "No,...

This week marks the official start of the fall TV season. Some series have already gotten off to a start, including Fox's comedy "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" and NBC's thriller "Blacklist" (with the official trailer above). There are almost too many new shows to keep track of — which is where Times TV...

The cast of "Modern Family" was jubilant and seemingly everywhere at HBO's annual post-Emmy bash at the Pacific Design Center on Sunday night.
The ABC sitcom was riding high thanks to its fourth consecutive Emmy win for best comedy, and star Ty...

The Fall Season is here, people. And though premieres will happen up and down what is still anachronistically called a dial, the season remains mainly the domain of the broadcast networks — which seem bent for the moment not on aping cable TV, as many...

He may have been sent packing on "American Idol," but Corey Clark just can't let the show go. Now he's joining other former contestants in a voluminous lawsuit claiming that Fox's singing contest is racist.
Clark, now 33, is one of 10...

In recent years, MTV has put teen moms in the spotlight. Now, it’s shifting focus to young people searching to find out more about their origins with the documentary series, “Generation Cryo,” premiering in November.
It focuses on a group of...

An old index card reads: Original. Real. Poignant. Those were the first words Greg Daniels jotted down a decade ago as his guide in adapting the daft British TV series "The Office" for an American audience.
The ideas on the flimsy card stock...

NBC renewed "The Office," "Parks and Recreation" and "Community" for the 2011-12 season on Thursday.It will be the third season for "Community," which stars Chicago native Danny Pudi, and a fourth for "Parks...